Fence



(Nd Model.)

T. D. PRITTER.

Fence.

No. 240,315. Patented April 19,1881.

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THOMAS D. FRITTER, OF MORBISTOWN, OHIO.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,315, dated April 19, 1881.

Application filed February 2, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS D. Fnrr'rna, a citizen of the United States, residing at Morristown, in the county of Belmont and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fences; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in wire fences; and it consists in the construct-ion and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a span of fence made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a detached portion of the web composing the wire fence. Fig. 3 shows the upper end of the post for holding my fence,- web. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are detail "iews of the lower end of the post; and Fig. 7 is a modification of the tension device.

a is a web-fence, composed of a series oflongitudinal Wires, a, woven together by crosscables (L The cables a are composed of two or more wires interwoven with the wires a, so as to form a strong Web, which may be rolled up in compact form. This web can be made of any desired number of wires, and of any desired height, and can be all prepared at the manufactory and shipped in a roll to the user. The cables a are interwoven, so as to provide loops or eyes a a above and below the fencewires. When the web-fence is set up hooks b having pointed shanks are caught in the loops a and driven into the ground, to hold the lower ends of the cables and prevent the fence from being pressed sidewise. The fence is held to the side of the posts 0 by any suitable means.

The posts 0 may be of the ordinary make and set in the ground in the usual manner, and be provided at their upper ends with recesses and other means hereinafter described for holding the tension-wire. I prefer, however, to make the posts as shown in the drawings. Each part is constructed with a hollow upper end, 0', in which is placed a coiled spring, d. Slots 0 are formed on opposite sides, so that a tension- (No model.)

wire, 6, can be put through the post above the coiled wire cl. The slots also permit a vertical movement of the tension-wire, for purposes hereinafter described. The tension-wire e is put through the post and rests on the spring 01, and it is also carried through the loops a on the upper ends of the cables a and supports the span of fence-web stretched between any two posts. The tension-wire is higher at its connections with the posts and drops toward the center of the span, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to give it greater power to hold the fence taut at all times.

The object of the eonstructionof the fence,

as described, is to prevent injury in winter from the contraction of the wires, and from sagging in summer when the wires will be lengthened by heat. The web is stretched between the posts and the tension-wire put in place. When the cold contracts the metal the spring (1 yields under the tension-wire, and thus the contraction is compensated for. In the summer the spring will press the tensionwire upward.

It will be seen that the contraction and expansion of the fence are wholly provided for by the spring and the tension-wire, and that a straight fence will be preserved. The top of the post is covered by a suitable cap, 0 which prevents the tension-wire from being lifted out of place, and at the same time keeps water, 860., from getting to the spring.

In Fig. 7 is shown a modification in the manner of holding the tension-wire to the post; but I do not prefer this method, as the standard is liable to be lifted out of the post, and

thus displace the tension-wire.

In Figs. 4, 5, and 6 I have shown the manner of constructing the lower end of the post, and providing it with legs or supports that may be set to adapt them to any desired lay of the ground. The lower end, 9, of the post is hollow, and is partially closed by an inner projecting circular rim or flange, 9, formed so as to leave a central opening, 9 large enough to hold the upper ends of the three legs h. The flange has also a small radial slot, g in it to permit the introduction of the hooked head of a leg into the post. The legs h are made of malleable iron, so that they can be bent outward and set at any desired angle. They have formed at their upper ends hooked heads h, which enter through the slots and catch on the inner side of the flange g. The three legs are inserted one after the other, and moved around on the flange till they are all fixed in position, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. When thus fixed one or all may be bent outward, as shown in Fig. 6, and set at any desired angle. The legs are prevented from being thrust too far into the post, either by small bosses h formed thereon, or by a flange, 9 formed in the post above the flange g. With legs thus provided the post can be set with greater ease and accuracy, and with greater stability than can be done with a tripod post of ordinary construction. In constructing this post it will be understood that the lower end, g, and the upper end, 0, may be made separately and provided with sockets, into which can be fitted a piece of wood to serve as the intermediate part of the post; or, if it be desired, only the part 9 need be of metal, and the entire upper part of the post be made of wood. In this case the upper end will be bored out to provide the necessary recess for the spring at.

A fence constructed as hereinbei'ore described can be set up in longer spans and maintained in better condition than can be done with the ordinary fence. Spans of a hundred feet in length will be retained in perfect condition through winter or summer. The

wires to can be barbed in the usual manner when desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat cut, is-

1. In a fence, the combination of a cable extended between and held in the upper ends of two posts, spring-seats arranged in the posts below and supporting the ends of the cable, and a span of fence stretched between the posts and suspended to the cable, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the woven span a of a wire fence, having loops a on its top, and the posts 0, of the spring cl, supported in the upper ends of the posts, and the tension-wire 0, put through the loops a and resting on the springs 1, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of post 0, having its socket or lower end, g, constructed with the flange 9, central opening, and side slot, g with legs h constructed of malleable iron, and provided with hooked heads 11/ 71, adapted to be inserted into the lower end of the post and held in place on the flange 9, so that they can be set outward as may be required, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses, on this 10th day of January, 1881.

THOMAS D. FRIITER.

Witnesses:

M. T. OOFFLAND, R. R. BARRETT. 

